Rhipsalidopsis plant named ‘PKMRhips04’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Rhipsalidopsis  plant named ‘PKMRHIPS04’ particularly characterized by its compact plant habit; dense and bushy plant form; moderate growth rate and upright growth habit; white colored buds; and large, upright white flower.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed:Rhipsalidopsis×hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘PKMRhips04’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofRhipsalidopsis, botanically known as Rhipsalidopsis×hybrida sometimesreferred to as Rhipsalidopsis Britton et Rose, including EpiphylopsisBerger, commonly known as either Easter Cactus or Spring Cactus, andhereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘PKMRhips04’.

The new Rhipsalidopsis cultivar is a product of a controlled breedingprogram conducted by the inventor, Christian Hald Madsen, in Søhus,Denmark.

The new Rhipsalidopsis cultivar originated from a cross made by theinventor in 2006 in Søhus, Denmark. The female and male parents areunpatented, proprietary Rhipsalidopsis×hybrida cultivars. The newRhipsalidopsis cultivar was discovered and selected by the inventor as asingle flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in acontrolled environment in 2010 in Søhus, Denmark. The inventor selected‘PKMRhips04’ on the basis of its flower color and compact, freelybranching, upright growth habit.

Asexual reproduction of the new Rhipsalidopsis cultivar by phyllocladecuttings was first performed in 2010 in Søhus, Denmark, and hasdemonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosedfor the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successivegenerations of asexual reproduction. The new cultivar reproduces true totype.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe unique characteristics of ‘PKMRhips04’ which distinguish thisRhipsalidopsis as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Upright growth habit;    -   2. Moderately vigorous growth; and    -   3. Short phylloclades.

Data on the parent cultivars is no longer available for comparison withthe claimed cultivar.

The most similar commercial cultivar to the instant cultivar‘PKMRhips04’ is the Rhipsalidopsis cultivar ‘Cebemma’ (Patented, U.S.Plant Pat. No. 14,588; CPVO Grant No. 13964). Plants of the instantcultivar ‘PKMRhips04’ differ primarily from plants of Rhipsalidopsis‘Cebemma’ in the following characteristic:

-   -   1. Plants of ‘PKMRhips04’ have a more upright growth habit than        plants of ‘Cebemma’, especially seen when grown as large plants;    -   2. Plants of ‘PKMRhips04’ have shorter phylloclades than plants        of ‘Cebemma’; and    -   3. Plants of ‘PKMRhips04’ are less prone to develop edema on the        phylloclades than plants of ‘Cebemma’.    -   4. Plants of ‘PKMRhips04’ have a more pronounced purple color        (between RHS 83A and RHS 83B) along the phylloclade margins than        plants of ‘Cebemma’.

Plants of the instant cultivar ‘PKMRhips04’ can also be meaningfullycompared to the co-pending Rhipsalidopsis cultivar ‘PKMRhips07’ (U.S.Plant patent application Ser. No. 13/986,563). Plants of the instantcultivar ‘PKMRhips04’ differ primarily from plants of Rhipsalidopsis‘PKMRhips07’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of ‘PKMRhips04’ are shorter overall than plants of        ‘PKMRhips07’;    -   2. Plants of ‘PKMRhips04’ have flowers which are smaller in        diameter than the flowers of ‘PKMRhips07’;    -   3. Plants of ‘PKMRhips04’ have flowers which are shorter than        the flowers of ‘PKMRhips07’;    -   4. Plants of ‘PKMRhips04’ have less yellow in the flower buds        than plants of ‘PKMRhips07’;    -   5. Plants of ‘PKMRhips04’ have more pronounced purple margins in        the phylloclades than plants of ‘PKMRhips07’; and    -   6. Plants of ‘PKMRhips04’ have styles and anthers at the same        height, whereas plants of ‘PKMRhips07’ have the style placed        above the anthers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Rhipsalidopsis cultivar ‘PKMRhips04’ showing the colors as true asis reasonably possible with colored reproductions of this type. Colorsin the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited inthe detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the colorof ‘PKMRhips04’.

FIG. 1 shows a typical flowering plant of ‘PKMRhips04’ grown in a 5 cmpot.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of typical buds and flowers and a singlephylloclade of ‘PKMRhips04’.

FIG. 3 shows a comparison of a typical plant of ‘PKMRhips04’ with atypical plant of the comparison variety ‘Cebemma’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Rhipsalidopsis cultivar ‘PKMRhips04’ has not been observed underall possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivarmay vary with variations in environment such as temperature, lightintensity, and day length without any change in the genotype of theplant.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the followingobservations, measurements and values describe plants of ‘PKMRhips04’ asgrown in a glass-covered greenhouse in Fyn, Denmark, under conditionswhich closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice,where day temperatures in the greenhouse average 18° C. and nighttemperatures in the greenhouse average 16° C. Ambient light levels usedwhile growing plants of ‘PKMRhips04’ are +50 Wm². No growth retardantswere used when growing plants of ‘PKMRhips04’.

The age of the ‘PKMRhips04’ plants described is about 10-12 months oldand grown in 5 cm pots. The photographs and descriptions were takenduring the winter season. Color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.), 5^(th) edition, exceptwhere general colors of ordinary significance are used.

-   Classification:    -   -   Botanical.—Rhipsalidopsis Britton et Rose.        -   Common name.—Easter Cactus or Spring Cactus.        -   Variety denomination.—PKMRhips04.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female or seed parent.—Unpatented, proprietary            Rhipsalidopsis Britton et Rose cultivar.        -   Male or pollen parent.—Unpatented, proprietary            Rhipsalidopsis Britton et Rose cultivar.-   Propagation: By phylloclade cuttings.    -   -   Time and temperature to initiate roots.—In a greenhouse,            about 2 months at 18° C. to 21° C.        -   Rooting habit and description.—Fine, well-branched.-   Plant:    -   -   Type.—Perennial, Epiphyte.        -   Overall shape.—Upright to pendulous.        -   Form.—Dense and Bushy.        -   Growth habit.—Branched.        -   Branching habit.—Three new phylloclades forming at the            apical end of older phylloclades. No pinching required.        -   Growth rate.—Slow.        -   Vigor.—Moderate.        -   Crop time.—About 10-12 months are required to produce a            finished flowering plant.        -   Size at maturity.—Height (soil level to top of plant,            including flowers): About 7-8 cm. Spread: About 12-15 cm,            excluding flowers.-   Stem: None, older phylloclades may turn woody with age (several    years).-   Phyllocade:    -   -   Arrangement.—Phylloclades form at the apex of older            phylloclades to form branches.        -   Aspect.—Upright to arching (from basal phylloclade).        -   Strength.—Strong (from basal phylloclade).        -   Length.—About 20-35 mm.        -   Width.—Up to 28 mm.        -   Overall shape.—Oval.        -   Apex shape.—Truncate.        -   Base shape.—Rounded.        -   Margin.—Crenate. Can be purple, between RHS 83A and RHS83B.        -   Texture.—Glabrous, smooth.        -   Pubescence.—Approx. 1-5 hairs up to 4 mm long at areoles            along margins.        -   Color of mature phylloclade.—Upper and lower surfaces: RHS            146A, yellow-green, the central part can be a little            brighter.        -   Venation.—None.-   Flower description:    -   -   Natural flowering season.—Flowering occurs from February to            April (northern hemisphere), but can be changed by short day            photo-treatment and cold treatment. Flowers persistent,            sessile.        -   Flowering response time.—About 8 to 9 weeks after end of            cold treatment.        -   Flowering longevity (dependent on temperature and light            conditions).—About 5 to 6 days.        -   Fragrance.—None.        -   Quantity of flowers per terminal phylloclade.—About 1 to 3.        -   Quantity of flowers and buds per plant.—About 20 to 25,            depending on plant size.        -   Flower bud.—Length: Ranging from 0 to 25 mm (before            anthesis). Width: Ranging from 0 to 1 cm. Shape: Ovoid to            lanceolatoid. Color: Larger Buds (over 1 cm): RHS 155A,            White. Smaller Buds (up to 1 cm): RHS 155A, White.        -   Flower.—Type: Single. Shape: Actinomorphic. Aspect: Upright            to vertical during development. Persistent or self-cleaning:            Persistent. Height: About 3.0 cm to 3.5 cm (including            ovary). Diameter: Up to 7.5 cm.        -   Tepals.—Arrangement: Actinomorphic; not fused. Quantity:            15-20. Length: Ranging from 3 mm to 35 mm. Width: Ranging            from 0 mm to 5 mm. Shape: Oblanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base:            Apical Whorl: Fused; Basal Whorl: Free. Margin: Entire.            Appearance: Matte. Texture: Smooth and Silky. Color (When            Opening): Upper and lower surfaces: RHS 155A, White. Color            (When Fully Opened): Upper and lower surfaces: RHS NN155C,            White. Color does not fade.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Androecium.—Stamen: Quantity: Many (>100). Anther: Shape:            Oblong. Length: About 1 mm. Color: RHS 14B, yellow-orange.            Filament: Length: 12 mm. Color: RHS 155A, White. Pollen:            Amount: Plenty. Color: RHS 14B, yellow-orange.        -   Gynoecium.—Pistil: Quantity: 1. Stigma: Shape: Ovoid. Color:            Between RHS 155A and RHS 155B, white. Style: Length: 12 mm.            Color: Base: RHS NN155C, white. Apex: RHS NN155C, white.            Ovary: Shape: obdeltoid with a broad base. With ribs.            Length: 7 mm. Width: 8 mm. Color: RHS N144B, yellow-green.-   Seeds/fruit: None observed.-   Disease/pest resistance and susceptibility: Not tested.-   Temperature tolerance: Tolerant to a low temperature of about 2° C.    and to a high temperature about 40° C.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct Rhipsalidopsis plant named ‘PKMRHIPS04’,as illustrated and described herein.